Bed sheet holder



June 11., 1963 G. B. GRONVOLD 3,092,848

BED SHEET HOLDER Filed Sept. 8. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 George B. Gram/old 1N VENTOK 9 BY we.

June 1963 e. B. GRONVOLD 3, 48

BED SHEET HOLDER Filed Sept. 8, 1960 2 Sheets-$11661; 2

Fig 5 Hg 7 George B Granvo/d INVENTOR.

United States 3,092,848 BED SHEET HOLDER George B. Gronvold, P.0. Box 727, Vancouver, Wash. Filed Sept. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 54,701 2 Claims. (Cl. 320) This invention relates to a mattress sheet holding arrangement.

The mattress or bed sheeting holding arrangement of this invention is unique and novel in that .it is designed to provide a practical means for holding a bed sheet, dimensionally restricted to the top surface portion of a mattress, in taut condition on the mattress. The holding arrangement is independent of the sheet itself and is used in conjunction with an ordinary rectangular shaped bed sheet requiring no special design or modification when used pursuant to this invention.

As will be readily appreciated, bed sheets have heretofore been applied to a mattress and held thereon by tucking of the side portions of the bed sheet under the mattress. Accordingly, the bed sheet purchased for application to a particular size bed-mattress are often as much as double the sleeping area or the top surface area of mattress to which the sheet is applied. Large portions of the sheet material are, therefore a total waste as far as the primary function of a bed sheet is concerned inasmuch as the wasted. portion contributes only to holding the sheet on the mattress by tucking under the mattress. It will thereforebe appreciated that by practice of the instant invention bed sheets may be dimensionally restricted to the top surface area of the mattress to thereby effect as much as a one-half savings in the amount of bed sheet material. Furthermore, by this large and significant reduction in the amount of bed sheet material, a correspondingly significant reduction in laundering is effected. This invention is therefore particularly invaluable to hotels, hospitals, etc., wherein bed sheet replacement and bed sheet laundering constitutes a major expense and problem. The arrangement of this invention will therefore enable the use of a bed sheet for its primary function namely to cover the sleeping surface of a mattress. Furthermore, this invention does not require any modification of the bed sheet from its usual rectangular shape and effectively holds the bed sheet in place without tearing or ripping thereof. A further disadvantage of tucked in bed sheets is avoided by practice of this invention in that the bed sheet may be automatically restored to wrinkled free condition by the sustained tensioning of the sheet holder, after the weight of a person is removed from the sheet covered mattress. It will'therefore be appreciated that a savings in bed-making services will be effected since remaking of wrinkled tucked-in type sheets would no longer be necessary. i

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a bed sheet holding arrangement enabling the use of bed sheets restricted dimensionally to the top surface area of the mattress.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bed sheet holding arrangement which will effectively hold the bed sheet in taut condition without causing tearing or ripping thereof. g I v An additional object of this invention-is to provide a bed sheet holding arrangement which is completely separable from the bed sheet material and which may be removably mounted on the mattress without modification of the mattress.

A still further object of this invention in accordance with the foregoing objects is to provide a bed sheet holder effecting a tremendous savings in bed sheet material, laundering and bed-making services.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details Patented June 11, 1963 of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bed sheet, mattress and bed sheet holder disassembled from each other.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one corner of a mattress with the sheet being held thereon by means of the bed sheet holder illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional view taken through a plane indicated by section line 33 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of one corner of a mattress and bed sheet held thereon by means of a second form of bed sheet holder.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the bed sheet holder illustrated in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by section line 6-6 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of one corner of a mattress illustrating a third form of bed sheet holder applied to a mattress cover.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed in FIGURE 1 that a mattress generally indicated by reference numeral 10 is to be covered by a bed sheet 12 which is to be held on the mattress 10 by means of a bed sheet holder generally indicated by reference numeral 14. It will therefore also be observed that the mat tress is of the usual rectangular form and includes a top surface portion 16, side portions 18, end portions 20 as well as a bottom portion. It will further be observed that the bed sheet 12 which is applied to the top surface portion 16 of the mattress 16, is of such dimension as to be equal in area and shape to the top portion 16 of the mattress 10. The bed sheet 12 is therefore made in the usual manner and is provided at the ends with hems of minimum size sufficient only to provide a finished edge. It will therefore be appreciated that this invention does not contemplate changing in any way the construction of the mattress or bed sheet, the mattress and bed sheet being uniquely related to each other however in that the bed sheet is dimensionally restricted to the top surface portion of the mattress for which it is to be used. The bed sheet holder therefore constitutes the only novel article of this invention enabling use of the mattress and bed sheet dimensionally related as hereinbefore indicated.

The bed sheet holder 14 as more clearly seen from FIGURES 2 and 3 in conjunction with FIGURE 1 involves the gripping of the bed sheet adjacent to and on either side of each corner thereof at the upper edges of the sides and :ends 18 and 20 respectively of the mattress 10. t will therefore be observed that adjacent each corner 22 of the mattress 10 the bed sheet holder 14- presents elastic tabs 24 and 26 which extend upwardly along the Width of the side 18 and end 20 of the mattress. The tabs 24 and 26 are therefore disposed on either side of each corner 22 adjacent thereto. The tabs 24 and 26 also are interconnected along the bottom of the mattress by means of an interconnecting band portion 28. A similar tab arrangement is provided at each corner of the mattress 10. Accordingly, a pair of interconnected cross bands 30 and 32 which are disposed underneath the mattress yieldably interconnect opposite connecting band portions 28. As a result thereof, each corner of the mattress may be yieldably embraced by the band and tabs without in any way being attached to either the mattress or the bed sheet. Fastener devices generally indicated by reference numeral 34 are provided adjacent each upper end of each elastic tab 24 and 26 in order to engage and grip an edge portion of the bed sheet 12 on either side of and adjacent to each corner of the bed sheet, as will be more clearly seen in FIGURE. 2. It will be understood that any suitable form of acsasas fastener device 34 may be utilized as long as it will effectively grip the material of the bed sheet at the indicated portion thereof without tearing, ripping or in any Way severing the threads of the bed sheet material. In FIGURES 2 and 3 a particular exemplary fastener is illustrated which includes an elastic strip 36 anchored adjacent its bottom to the elastic tab 24 for example, while the upper end of the strip 36 has attached thereto in any suitable manner a spring clip element 38. A yieldable plastic button projection 49 is attached to the upper end of the elastic tab 24 or 26 whereby the edge material of sheet 12 may be placed thereover and retained thereon by means of the clip 38 engaged with the material and projection 40 above the neck of the clip. In such a manner the material may be effectively gripped without any danger of tearing thereof. It will of course be understood that other suitable friction type clips or grips may be utilized for accomplishing the same purpose.

From the foregoing description, it will therefore be appreciated that an effective method is disclosed for holding the bed sheet :12 on the top of the mattress .10

' with the proper tautness. While it is apparent that the holder 14 consitutes the only item which deviates from an otherwise old mattress and old type bed sheet 12, it will however be appreciated that bed sheets of much smaller dimensions may be purchased for use on the intended mattress, than was heretofore possible.

FIGURES 4, and 6 illustrate a second form of holder for the bed sheet 12. It will therefore be observed in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 that adjacent each corner 22 there is provided an elastic band generally indicated by reference numeral 42. The elastic band 42 includes a top band portion 44, a bottom band portion 46 and interconnecting side band portions 48 and 50. The band 42 is accordingly so arranged to embrace the mattress adjacent the corners 22 thereof as more clearly seen in FIGURE 4. It will be appreciated however that the band 42 being yieldable, may embrace the mattress under tension which would tend to outwardly displace the band off the mattress corner. Accordingly, the top portion 44 of the band is provided with a slit 52 for the purpose of gripping a corner end of the bed sheet 12 as more clearly seen in FIGURES 4 and 6. It will therefore be appreciated that as each of the elastic bands 42 applied to the corner portions of the mattress under tension and receive the corner ends of the sheet 12 folded over, into the slit 52 and then under the top band 44, will upon outwardly displacement apply tension to the bed sheet so as to render it-taut and further cause the top band portion 44 to grip the corner and ends of the sheet 12 with a greater gripping force. It will again be appreciated that this latter form of bed sheet holder provides an efiective method for holding the bed sheet 12 on the mattress 10' and yet involves no modification of the mattress or the bed sheet aside from the novel dimensional relationship between sheet and mattress.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a third application of the concept of this invention. Accordingly, Where a mattress cover 54 is to be utilized in conjunction with the mattress, said mattress cover may be provided with a pair of projecting fastener buttons 56 and 58 adjacent both upper and lower edges of the side or end portions of the mattress cover. A pair of fastener clips 60 similar to fastener clips 38 in FIGURES 1 through 3 are interconnect'ed by a yieldable strip 62 so that one fastener element may be removably attached adjacent to one edge of a side or end portion of the mattress cover 54 whereby the edge portion of the sheet 12 may be engaged by the other clip element 60 as more clearly seen in FIG- URE 7. The projections 56 and 58 therefore enable the mattress to be turned over and the sheet held on either side thereof. In this latter form of the invention therefore, the mattresscover 54 itself constitutes the 4 connecting or mattress embracing portion to interconnect the fastener elements disposed on either side and adjacent to each corner of the mattress as accomplished in other disclosed forms of the invention. The mattress cover 54 is of the conventional type and includes the zipper element 64 permitting the removal or application of the mattress cover 54 to the mattress. The mattress cover 54 therefore involves merely the application thereto of a pair of fastener element 56 and 58 on either side and adjacent to each corner. It will be understood that other types of fastener elements may be utilized other than the type illustrated in FIGURE 7, it being merely required that the fastener element be capable of engaging the sheet 12 without tearing thereof by stretching the mounting elastic strips 62 to the edge of the sheet 12 for gripping thereof by the fastener device, in a manner similar to the fastening arrangement of FIGURES 1 through 3.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.- Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a mattress having top, sides and bottom portions, a bed sheet of continuous material having an uninterrupted perimeter dimensionally restricted to the entire top portion of the mattress, fastener means removably engageable with the sheet adjacent the corner on the mattress but completely separable from the sheet for holding the sheet on and restricted to the top portion of the mattress in taut condition said fastener means comprising, an elastic band embracing each corner of the mattress under tension tending to displace each band off the corner of the mattress, gripping means mounted on each bandfor receiving a corner of the sheet with a gripping and tensioning force which increases in response to displacement of each elastic band, said gripping means comprising a slit in a top portion of each elastic band receiving a folded corner of the sheet.

2. In combination wtih a mattress including a top sleeping surface, a bed sheet having a continuous perimeter dimensionally restricted to the top sleeping surface and sheet holder means removably mounted below the top sleeping surface and frictionally engageablewith but completely separable from said sheet at spaced points along the perimeter thereof for maintaining said sheet under sustained tension for restoring the sheet to wrinkle free condition, said holder means comprising, an elastic band embracing each corner of the mattress under tension tending to displace each band off the corner of the mattress, gripping means mounted on each band for receiving a corner of the sheet with a gripping and tensioning force which increases in response to displacement of each elastic band, said gripping means comprising a slit in a top portion of each elastic band receiving a folded corner of the sheet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A MATTRESS HAVING TOP, SIDES AND BOTTOM PORTIONS, A BED SHEET OF CONTINUOUS MATERIAL HAVING AN UNINTERRUPTED PERIMETER DIMENSIONALLY RESTRICTED TO THE ENTIRE TOP PORTION OF THE MATTRESS, FASTENER MEANS REMOVABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SHEET ADJACENT THE CORNER ON THE MATTRESS BUT COMPLETELY SEPARABLE FROM THE SHEET FOR HOLDING THE SHEET ON AND RESTRICTED TO THE TOP PORTION OF THE MATTRESS IN TAUT CONDITION SAID FASTENER MEANS COMPRISING, AN ELASTIC BAND EMBRACING EACH CORNER OF THE MATTRESS UNDER TENSION TENDING TO DISPLACE EACH BAND OFF THE CORNER OF THE MATTRESS, GRIPPING MEANS MOUNTED ON EACH BAND FOR RECEIVING A CORNER OF THE SHEET WITH A GRIPPING 